ABC to ignore China's program demands

Australia's national broadcaster the ABC will ignore the Chinese government's demands not to screen a TV current affairs program that shines a spotlight on their Uighur population.

The program, due to air on the ABC's Foreign Correspondent on Tuesday night, features Beijing-based correspondent Stephen McDonell looking into the Chinese government's treatment of the minority Muslim community in the country's far west.

Footage from the show indicates McDonell was subjected to overt surveillance during his assignment.

ABC's director of communications Michael Millett confirmed officials from the Chinese Embassy requested a meeting in an attempt to have the program pulled.

"I made it clear that the ABC's obligation was to ensure the program was accurate and it would contain the views of all parties, including the Chinese authorities," he told AAP.

Mr Millett wouldn't confirm media reports Chinese officials advised the ABC that relations between the two countries could be damaged if the program was shown.

"I'm not going to go into detail on what they said, but they certainly made it clear that they weren't happy. You can read into that what you want," he said.